Sam Pictor: Here we have two triathlon bikes at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Mark Threlfall: We've got a cheap bike and a super bike. Both designed with aerodynamics
in mind and for triathlon and time trials, but does their price difference really translate
to performance? Sam: Well, it's time to find out in Cheap
Bike versus Super Bike. [music]
Mark: All right then. Let's take a look at the contestants in today's match. In the red
corner, we've got the newest Canyon Speedmax. It's a fully carbon fiber frame with aerodynamic
shaping. It's stiff, it's light, and comes fully equipped with the Shimano Dura-Ace 9150
electronic groupset. We've also got hydraulic disk brakes and the DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut
wheels which are light and aero. It's also incredibly adjustable for comfort and comes
with a ton of integration for triathlon. Sam: Over in the blue corner, we've got the
Boardman Team TT. We bought this on eBay for £400. Well, what do you think?
Mark: It's got two wheels. Sam: Oh, I think we've got a bit of a bargain
really. It's a solid bit of kit. It's got SRAM FSA cranks. The wheels, well, I don't
really have any idea but they're true and there's a bit of rust but nothing a bit of
chain lube won't sort out. Just the question is how will it fare against the super bike?
Mark: We'll just have to find out. [music]
All right then. Let's get going. The first of many verses for today and it's got to be
the time trial. We've got a flat and fast section of road here behind us.
Sam: We've set ourselves up as well as possible on both bikes, a near enough identical setup.
To bring some accuracy to this, we're going to be aiming to ride all of our efforts at
300 watts. That'll give us a chance to see just how much speed we get for those 300 watts.
Mark: Cool. Who's first? You? Do you want to go up first?
Sam: I'll go first if I get to ride the Speedmax. Beep, beep, beep, beep.
[music] I don't know how he's getting on. I can't
see him. Well, I'll try not to catch him. Beep, beep, beep, beep. Starting on an uphill.
300 watts, yes, into the aero bars. Here we go. I'm coming for you, Threlfall.
[music] Oh, there we are. I wonder how that compares.
It felt all right. [panting] The bike felt better than my legs did. We have to see how
that compares to the super bike. Mark: Oh, how was that?
Sam: Oh, I made it alive. Mark: Lovely effort, isn't it?
Sam: I'm not sure if my legs did this bike credit, to be honest, but it felt good.
Mark: It's still in one piece, that's the main thing.
Sam: It's very similar to the bike I first started racing on and it brought back a few
memories. Mark: Well, that did you well. I can't believe
I'm saying this, but I want your bike now. Sam: Well, I'll take that. I have no problem
at all. There we go. Mark: Cheers mate. Okay, cheap bike time.
Beep, beep, beep, beep. [unintelligible 00:04:40] [music]
Sam: I'm going to count myself in, beep, beep, beep, beep. Missed the pedal, in the pedal.
There we go. [music]
Mark: That is the first battle down and I've got to say, the results are quite interesting.
I started off on the Speedmax and I went 4:17 over the 2k and then 4:22 on the Boardman.
Sam: Yes, that is interesting. Very similarly, I went 4:22 on here and 4:26 on there which
is a bit slower than you but I'm about 8 kilograms heavier, I'm a bit taller, and, although you
said it was a flat course, there was a slight hill at the beginning which my legs were not
prepared for. Mark: Sorry about that. I didn't really factor
that in or actually realize. Anyway, I have done a little bit of math whilst you were
finishing off your time trial there and it works out for my time difference anyway. Around
three minutes if I extrapolate that out to a 70.3 distance and six minutes difference
if I extrapolate that out to an Ironman distance, which for some people that sounds like a lot
but for others, hey, if you're just getting into the sport, that's not bad.
Sam: I think it's important to say, I did start my racing career, even my first few
races as a professional athlete on a bike very similar to this. The wheels were slightly
different and I just had a few mod cons but you can do a lot on a bike like this.
Mark: It felt fast. I've got to say it felt really good. I must admit, I didn't feel that
comfortable. I would imagine if I was doing a 70.3 or .9 round, I'd probably lose more
than three or six minutes because I'd be adjusting myself all the time but this was the first
time on the bike. I feel like it did the job well but if you're looking for those marginal
gains, then, that ticked the box I'd say. We've got more tests for these bikes so let's
get on to a hill climb. Sam: Yes, let's see what we've got.
[music] Here we have behind us the infamous-- What
hill is it, Mark? Mark: Good question. I'm actually not that
sure. I just found it on the map and it was close by to where we were. It's nothing special.
It's about 600 meters long, only around 30 meters of elevation but it does get quite
punchy in the middle so it's enough to test the climbing ability, as you say.
Sam: It does look like it ramps up a bit. This is a flat shootout. The first one to
the top wins, the fastest time will decide. Mark: Cool. As you have just finished on the
Speedmax, should we swap over for this one? Sam: Shall we?
Mark: I'm ready. Sam: One, let's go. No, that's too hard again.
Mark: I've got to reach forward for my gears. [music]
Ow, there wasn't much in that. Sam: We've got to do that twice, do we?
Mark: Yes. I'll tell you what, those gears. Sam: I noticed every time, I'd look forward
to you changing gear because you dropped back a bit.
Mark: I've got to sit down. Every time I had to sit down because it's so clunky. I've got
to lean forward so I can't help the saddle reach forward.
Sam: No fault of the bike but I started in the wrong gear and then I shifted and found
myself spinning. Once we got into it, I was able to just accelerate away from you a bit.
Mark: Time to swap over mate. Sam: I was hoping I'd at least get the descent.
Mark: Beep, beep, beep, beep. Sam: Oh, he's got a good head start.
Mark: So happy to be back on this. Sam: That was awful.
Mark: What's your thoughts, Sam? Why is that slowing you down?
Sam: Gears is the obvious one. I don't feel like it's the bike's fault but it is part
of the whole package, isn't it? I'd caught level with you after my poor start and I had
to slow and sit down. Mark: To be honest, I think that's all it
is. I think it's a great bike. There's not much difference in weight. Feeling wise, moving
it from side to side, pretty similar. It's just the gears. I can even change these standing
up out of the saddle which makes a big difference. [music]
All right, that was a lot of fun. I've got to say, pleasantly surprised by this cheap
bike. He's really holding his own. Now, I've got another test, and I've thrown this one
in spur of the moment simply because we've got a bit of time and I thought it'd be fun.
How about the good old roll down test? Sam: Do you mean the simple, backyard aero
test? Mark: Yes, exactly. You just start from a
standstill point, you push off, don't pedal and you simply see how far you get, so really
testing the aerodynamics of the bike. Let's be honest, we don't need both of us doing
this so why don't you do the roll down test and I'll take on the tough task of tracking
where you finish. One little pedal off and then into the aero tuck and that's it. Off
you go. Aero, aero. Sam: I'm still rolling. I'm still going at
20 kilometers an hour. Speed dropping now. Now it's going to be a case of how slow can
I go? Here we are. Here we go. One pedal, into aero, and we're off. We're on, and we're
picking up speed on the first bit of the hill. Starting to accelerate. There we are. We need
to measure that out really, but I probably stopped about, what do you reckon? 60, 70
meters short, and it didn't get up to speed in the same way as the Canyon did. The stick's
just up there. Mark: Oh, mate.
Sam: There's quite a considerable difference really.
Mark: I was hoping the Boardman might surprise us on this one.
Sam: Yes, I thought it could. Mark: Although, I do think weight may come
into play and this is slightly heavier so hey.
Sam: A bit. I think it'd be a combination of wheels, aerodynamics, maybe a bit of weight
but we should go off this road. [music]
Mark: We've got one final test for you guys. Just for a bit of fun really. It is the brake
test which isn't so relevant for time trials or triathlon, given it's all about going fast,
but nonetheless is still an important feature of a bike.
Sam: I will take the time now to point out that we have disc brakes on the Canyon, and
rim brakes on the Boardman but that doesn't bother me because I'm going to let you do
the braking test because I did the roll down. Mark: Fair enough. You can be the adjudicator,
the marker. Sam: I'll go and measure.
[music] That's not actually that bad.
Mark: It's about a bike length. Sam: A bike length.
Mark: That's better than I expected. Sam: It's almost a tire test because they
worked, didn't they? Mark: Yes, it is very damp on the ground but-
Sam: It stopped. I can't complain with that. Mark: Okay. Well, good bike.
[music] Mark: That has been a lot of fun today and
I think that concludes our video. What did you think honestly of the cheap bike? I think
it's done pretty well. Sam: I was pleasantly surprised really. Like
I said, I raced on a bike very similar to this so I thought it might happen but, without
doing very much to it you could make this a lot quicker.
Mark: I think it's a very good starting point. You've got a very good basis there to upgrade
from, build from. Let's state the obvious, this has got aero wheels on it, that hasn't.
You can start adding that. That's going to make a significant impact on that, and yes,
the difference is today it lacked a little bit in each area, but not by masses. If you
are just starting out in the sport, or even still trying to be competitive, this bike
will do you very, very well, but as you start to maybe perhaps looking to win races, be
on the podium, qualify for world champs con, and whatnot, this bike really comes into its
own. Sam: Absolutely. They both do a very good
job. I liken it to this is a bit of your sports car and this is maybe your family car. The
handling on that bike was just amazing. You could feel how light it was and how stiff
it was and it was a joy to ride. If you take out time and speed, where it does excel anyway,
that would be enough for a reason to buy it for me but you wouldn't go too far wrong with
this. Mark: We'd love to hear what you guys think.
Obviously, this has been super rough and ready today and a bit of fun but hopefully you guys
have enjoyed it. If so, please give it a like. Give it a thumbs up. Get involved in the comments
section down below. Stay tuned for more videos with this cheap secondhand bike, because I
start to actually upgrade it and then maybe put it through its paces again. So stay tuned
for that. If you want to see them, make sure you're following us over on social media and
give us a subscribe just down below. [00:15:54] [END OF AUDIO]